Morocco Send me a copy Subject: Email addresses provided here will be used solely to email the link indicated. They will not be saved, shared, or used again in any manner whatsoever. The CAPTCHA code you entered is not valid, please reenter the CAPTCHA code Morocco Official Name: Kingdom of Morocco Last Updated: April 8, 2016 Embassy Messages Must be valid at time of entry BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: One page required for entry stamp TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Not required for stays under 90 days VACCINATIONS: Export of Moroccan dirhams is not allowed Expand All Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(212)(661) 13-19-39 Fax: +(212) (522) 29-77-01 KM 5.7, Avenue Mohammed VI Souissi, Rabat Fax: +(212)(537) 63-72-01 Destination Description Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Morocco for information on U.S. – Morocco relations. Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements Passports and Visas: You must have a valid passport with at least one blank page.

Visas are not required for visits lasting less than 90 days. Visit the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco website for the most current visa information. If you remain in Morocco beyond 90 days without having requested an extension of stay, you will need to appear before a judge prior to departing Morocco. Please contact the immigration office at your local police station for details. Clearance may include the payment of a fine. Travelers who plan to reside in Morocco must obtain a residence permit from immigration authorities (Service Etranger) at the central police station of the district of residence. Carry a copy of your U.S. passport with you at all times to have proof of identity and U.S. citizenship readily available, if needed. Children who possess U.S. passports and who are born to a Moroccan father may experience difficulty leaving Morocco without the father's permission, even if the parents are divorced and the mother has legal custody. Under Moroccan law, these children are considered Moroccan citizens. U.S. citizen women married to Moroccans do not need their spouse's permission to leave Morocco. HIV/AIDS: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Morocco.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction , and customs regulations on our websites. Safety and Security The potential for terrorist violence against U.S. interests and citizens exists in Morocco. Moroccan authorities continue to disrupt groups seeking to attack U.S. or Western-affiliated and Moroccan government targets, arresting numerous individuals associated with international terrorist groups. With indications that such groups still seek to carry out attacks in Morocco, it is important for U.S. citizens to be keenly aware of their surroundings and adhere to prudent security practices such as avoiding predictable travel patterns and maintaining a low profile. Establishments that are identifiable with the United States are potential targets for attacks. These may include facilities where U.S. citizens and other foreigners congregate, including clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, hotels, movie theaters, U.S. brand establishments, and other public areas. Such targets may also include establishments where activities that may offend religious sensitivities occur, such as casinos or places where alcoholic beverages are sold or consumed. All U.S. citizens are urged to remain alert to local security developments and be vigilant regarding their personal security and report any suspicious incidents or problems immediately to Moroccan authorities and the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca.

Demonstrations occur frequently in Morocco and are typically focused on political or social issues. During periods of heightened regional tension, large demonstrations may take place in the major cities. By law, all demonstrations require a government permit, but spontaneous unauthorized demonstrations, which have greater potential for violence, can occur. In addition, different unions or groups may organize strikes to protest an emerging issue or government policy. Travelers should be aware of the current levels of tension in Morocco and stay informed of regional issues that could resonate in Morocco and create an anti-American response. Avoid demonstrations if at all possible. If caught in a demonstration, remain calm and move away immediately when provided the opportunity. The Western Sahara is an area where the legal status of the territory and the issue of its sovereignty remain unresolved. The area was long the site of armed conflict between Moroccan government forces and the POLISARIO Front, which continues to seek independence for the territory. However, a cease-fire has been fully in effect since 1991 in the UN-administered area. There are thousands of unexploded mines in the Western Sahara and in areas of Mauritania adjacent to the Western Saharan border. Exploding mines are occasionally reported, and they have caused death and injury.

There have been sporadic reports of violence in the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla stemming from sporting events and from political demonstrations. Morocco claims sovereignty over the Western Sahara and closely monitors and controls access to the territory. There have been instances in which U.S. citizens suspected of being participants in political protests or of supporting NGOs that are critical of Moroccan policies have been expelled from, or not been allowed to enter, the Western Sahara. To stay connected: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook . See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips. Local Laws & Special Circumstances Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website. Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S.

Consulate immediately. See our webpage for further information. Crimes of fraud, including passing bad checks, non-payment of bills (including hotel bills), or breach of contract are considered serious in Morocco and can often result in imprisonment and/or fines. Bail generally is not available to non-residents of Morocco who are arrested for crimes involving fraud. Debtors can be held in prison until their debts are paid or until an agreement is reached between the parties. Passports may be seized by the Moroccan government to guarantee that debtors settle their cases. Debtors may be unable to work in Morocco without passports while still being held responsible for their debts. Prior to entering into a contract, you may want to consider consulting an attorney. Faith-Based Travelers: Islam is the official religion in Morocco. However, the constitution provides for the freedom to practice one's religion. The Moroccan government does not interfere with public worship by the country’s Jewish minority or by expatriate Christians. Proselytizing is, however, prohibited. In the past, U.S. citizens have been arrested, detained, and/or expelled for discussing or trying to engage Moroccans in debate about Christianity. In February 2014, several U.S.

citizens were expelled from Morocco for alleged proselytizing. Many of those expelled were long-time Moroccan residents. In these cases, U.S. citizens were given no more than 48 hours to gather their belongings or settle their affairs before being expelled. See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report . LGBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Morocco. Penalties include fines and jail time. See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details. Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: While in Morocco, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what is customary in the United States. Copy of the current passport Copy of the current Moroccan residency card Medical certificate from a doctor stating that the requester is free from any contagious disease Court record (Casier Judiciaire) obtained from the Ministry of Justice in Rabat 100 MAD stamp Individuals planning on residing in Morocco or relocating to the U.S. may be asked to provide a notarized change of residence form. This form is available at the U.S. Consulate by appointment.

Sending Passports through the Mail: According to Moroccan law, it is prohibited to send passports by mail across international borders. Passports sent to or through Morocco via Fedex, DHL, or other courier will be confiscated by Moroccan authorities. Confiscated U.S. passports are sent to the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca after being processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If your passport has been confiscated, you can contact the American Citizens Services section at acscasablanca@state.gov to ask if it has been received. Property: U.S. consular officers are prohibited by law and regulation from accepting personal property for safekeeping regardless of the circumstances involved. If there is concern over the protection of property left behind in Morocco due to confiscation or deportation for political, legal, or other reasons, U.S. citizens should take every precaution to ensure that available legal safeguards are in place either before, or immediately after, purchasing property in Morocco or taking up residence there. U.S. citizens are also encouraged to consider assigning a Power of Attorney, or Procuration, to be used in Morocco if necessary.

More information and sample Power of Attorney forms are available on the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in New York website. Photographing Sensitive Locations: Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with the authorities. As a general rule, travelers should not photograph palaces, diplomatic missions, government buildings, or other sensitive facilities and when in doubt should ask permission from the appropriate Moroccan authorities. Professional Basketball in Morocco: The U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca is aware that there are local professional basketball teams who have made contracts with U.S. citizens to play on Moroccan teams. Some of these players have subsequently claimed they were not paid as stipulated per the terms of the contract. Individuals considering playing basketball professionally in Morocco may wish to consult with a lawyer regarding the terms of their contract prior to signing. A list of lawyers can be found on the Consulate’s webpage. Health Adequate medical care is available in Morocco’s largest cities, particularly in Rabat and Casablanca, although not all facilities meet Western standards. Emergency and specialized care outside the major cities is far below U.S. standards and may not be available at all.

Most medical staff will have limited or no English-speaking ability. Most ordinary prescription and over-the-counter medicines are widely available. Specialized prescriptions may be difficult to fill and availability of all medicines in rural areas is unreliable. Travelers should not ask friends or relatives to send medications through the mail, FedEx, or UPS since Moroccan customs will impound the delivery and not release it to the recipient. Travelers planning to drive in the mountains and other remote areas may wish to carry a medical kit and a Moroccan phone card for emergencies. In the event of vehicle accidents involving injuries, immediate ambulance service is usually not available. The police emergency services telephone number is “190” (see Traffic Safety and Road Conditions section below). The U.S. Mission in Morocco is unable to pay your medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. You may also be required to pay a deposit before being admitted for treatment. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage . We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the medication is legal in Morocco. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Further health information: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel & Transportation Road Conditions and Safety: Traffic accidents are a significant hazard in Morocco. Driving practices are very poor and have resulted in serious injuries to and fatalities of U.S. citizens. This is particularly true at dusk during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, when adherence to traffic regulations is lax, and from July to September when Moroccans resident abroad return from Europe by car in large numbers. Drivers should exercise extreme caution when driving at night due to poor lighting systems along roads. Traffic signals do not always function, and are sometimes difficult to see. Modern freeways link the cities of Tangier, Rabat, Fez, Casablanca, and Marrakesh. Two-lane highways link other major cities. Secondary routes in rural areas are often narrow and poorly paved.

Roads through the Rif and Atlas mountains are steep, narrow, windy, and dangerous. Pedestrians, scooters, and animal-drawn conveyances are common on all roadways, including the freeways, and driving at night should be avoided if possible. During the rainy season (November - March), flash flooding is frequent and sometimes severe, washing away roads and vehicles in rural areas. Traffic Laws: In the event of a traffic accident, including accidents involving injuries, the parties are required to remain at the scene and not move their vehicles until the police have arrived and documented all necessary information. The police emergency services telephone number is “190”. Often Moroccan police officers pull over drivers for inspection within the city and on highways. Traffic Fines: Confiscation of a driver’s license is possible if a violator is unable or unwilling to settle a fine at the time of a traffic stop. If you are stopped for a speeding violation, you have the right to request the video footage documenting the infraction. Once the speeding violation is confirmed, you have three options: Pay the fine on the spot and obtain a receipt of payment; Pay at the local city’s treasury (La Perception).

The police/gendarme officer will issue you a ‘ticket’ indicating the amount of the fine and keep your driver’s license until you pay the fine. Should you wish to contest a violation, you may file a complaint at court; however, Moroccan authorities may keep your driver’s license and vehicle registration while this lengthy process takes place. Foreign driver’s licenses are valid for use in Morocco for up to one year. After that, foreign residents must pass the Moroccan driver’s test and obtain a Moroccan driver’s license. Public Transportation: While public buses and taxis are inexpensive, driving habits are poor, and buses are frequently overcrowded. The train system has a good safety record. Trains, while sometimes crowded, are comfortable and generally on time. See our Road Safety page for more information. Visit Morocco’s National Tourism website for additional information. Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Morocco’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Morocco’s air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

Emergency After-Hours Telephone +(212) (661) 13-19-39 Fax +(212) (522) 29-77-01 Tangier and Casablanca Tangier and Casablanca Tweet Spend three nights in cosmopolitan Casablanca, a vibrant port city that blends old-world charm with modern prosperity. Home to a pleasant, subtropical climate, Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city and financial hub. Originating with the ancient Berbers, Casablanca has been impacted by its former Phoenician, Roman, Jewish, Portuguese and French inhabitants; today you will still notice a French-colonial influence present in the city’s architecture and restaurant scene. Then travel to Tangier, Morocco’s 5th-largest city and your home for three nights. Located directly south of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, Tangier boasts a fascinating history that spans roughly 2500 years.

INCLUSIONS: Flights: New York-Tangier, Casablanca-New York¹ 3-night hotel accommodations in Tangier Flight: Tangier to Casablanca 3-night hotel accommodations in Casablanca Breakfast daily Taxes and surcharges City Taxes are not included. A city tax on hotel stays may be charged and collected directly from you at the time of checkout. These taxes vary by hotel category and city, and may change at any time based on local legislation. ¹For pricing from your local airport, choose your date and then select your preferred airport and click “Continue Booking this Package”. Routing and schedule subject to availability at time of booking Flights: New York-Tangier, Casablanca-New York¹ 3-night hotel accommodations in Tangier Flight: Tangier to Casablanca 3-night hotel accommodations in Casablanca Breakfast daily Taxes and surcharges City Taxes are not included. A city tax on hotel stays may be charged and collected directly from you at the time of checkout. These taxes vary by hotel category and city, and may change at any time based on local legislation. ¹For pricing from your local airport, choose your date and then select your preferred airport and click “Continue Booking this Package”.

Routing and schedule subject to availability at time of booking Package Itinerary Board your flight from the United States to Tangier, Morocco. Days 2 to 4: Arrive in Tangier and make your way to your hotel. You will be in Tangier for 3 nights, giving you plenty of time to explore. Breakfast included daily. Days 5 to 7: After breakfast in the hotel, check out and make your way to Tangier's airport to catch your flight to Casablanca. Arrive in Casablanca and make your way to your hotel. You will be in Casablanca for 3 nights, giving you plenty of time to explore. Breakfast included daily. Day 8: After breakfast in the hotel, bid farewell to Morocco as you board your return flight to the United States. Unless otherwise stated, transfers and sightseeing are not included in the package price. They are extras suggested for you to make the most of your trip. These can be added up to two weeks prior to your departure by contacting our call center at (800) 227-3235! Travel Options Check out our optional sightseeing.

Save time and money by pre-booking your sightseeing tours before you travel. Customer Reviews Destination Notes Hotel Availability: All packages are subject to availability at time of booking. Hotels that are on request may not be available and a comparable alternate will be offered. City Taxes are not included. A city tax on hotel stays may be charged and collected directly from you at the time of checkout. These taxes vary by hotel category and city, and may change at any time based on local legislation. Choose Your Departure Date Tangier | Morocco | Britannica.com Tangier Alternative Titles: Tanger, Tánger, Ṭanjah, Tingis Related Topics Abd al-Aziz Tangier, French Tanger, Spanish Tánger, Arabic Ṭanjah, port and principal city of northern Morocco . It is located on a bay of the Strait of Gibraltar 17 miles (27 km) from the southern tip of Spain; Tétouan lies about 40 miles (65 km) to the southeast. Pop. (2004) 669,685. Port and ramparts of the old town, Tangier, Mor. M.

Williams/Shostal Associates The city Tangier is built on the slopes of a chalky limestone hill. The old town (medina), enclosed by 15th-century ramparts, is dominated by a casbah, the sultan’s palace (now a museum of Moroccan art), and the Great Mosque. European quarters, whose populations have declined considerably since integration with Morocco in 1956, stretch to the south and west. Tangier has been the summer site of the Moroccan royal residence since 1962. An important port and trade centre, the city has excellent road and rail connections with Fès , Meknès , Rabat , and Casablanca , as well as an international airport and regular shipping services to Europe . The building trades, fishing , and textile and carpet manufacturing supplement the city’s vibrant tourist trade. The port of Tangier, Mor., as seen from the cliffs west of the city. © Michael Hynes Tangier and its suburbs dominate the surrounding region, which occupies the northernmost area of the country, situated on a peninsula immediately north of the Gharb lowland plain and adjacent to the Rif Mountains that lie to the southeast. Beyond the city, the region is poor in resources.

Vegetable growing and poultry breeding have traditionally been the main rural economic pursuits. The famous Grand Socco (grand souk) market, Tangier, Mor. © Michael Hynes During the early to mid-20th century, Tangier was periodically under the collective administration of several countries. It was during this time that many Westerners settled there, and the city became a place of great political and artistic ferment. Tangier was famous as a destination of artists and writers from Europe and the United States during the 1950s and ’60s and to a lesser extent in later decades. One of the most famous Moroccan writers to reside and work there was Mohamed Choukri (Muḥammad Shukrī), whose For Bread Alone (1973), the first of three autobiographical works, chronicled coming of age in Tangier. History Casablanca Few cities have had a more varied history than Tangier. Existing already as a Phoenician trading post in the middle of the 1st millennium bce, it later became Carthaginian; the remains of a Carthaginian settlement can still be seen near Cape Spartel.

In 81 bce the Roman general Quintus Sertorius captured the city (then known as Tingis) from the Mauretanian king Bocchus I . In 38 bce, during a round of Roman civil unrest, Tingis was taken on behalf of Octavian (the future emperor Caesar Augustus ) by Bocchus II from his brother Bogud, who supported Octavian’s rival, Mark Antony . Becoming a free city in 42 ce, Tingis was made the capital of the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana, with the name Tingis Colonia Julia Traducta, and it remained important commercially even after the political capital was removed to Volubilis . After five centuries of Roman rule and a brief occupation by the Vandals in the 5th century, Tingis was captured by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. When the Arabs arrived in the 7th century, however, Ceuta , not Tangier, seems to have been their principal fortress on the strait.

The Arab general ʿUqbah ibn Nāfiʿ (Sidi Okba) reached Tangier in 682 and from there raided deep into Morocco. In 707, when Mūsā ibn Nuṣayr was appointed governor of North Africa , he had to reconquer Tangier; the Amazigh (Berber) Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād was appointed governor and in 711 launched an invasion of Spain , where his landing point, Gibraltar , still bears his name as a corruption of Jabal Ṭāriq (Mount Ṭāriq). In 951 ʿAbd al-Raḥmān III of Córdoba, the first caliph of the western Umayyad dynasty , annexed the city, and it remained under Muslim Spanish rule until the collapse of the caliphate about 80 years later. Under the Almoravids , Tangier became Moroccan again and—despite a failed attempt to conquer the city by the Portuguese prince Henry the Navigator in 1437—remained so until captured by the Portuguese in 1471.

Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots In 1580 Tangier passed, with Portugal itself, to Spain ; it returned to independent Portugal in 1656. In 1662 it was transferred to the English crown as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza , wife of Charles II . The English put great hopes on this new possession, but, though a fine mole (breakwater) was built and a new fortification erected, the expense of maintaining the city against Moroccan attacks and the Protestant suspicion that it was a centre of Roman Catholicism caused it to be abandoned again in 1684. Since then it has remained a part of Morocco. Capitals & Cities: Fact or Fiction? Tangier began to play a significant role in history again in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. At the end of the 18th century, a British consul and some 100 British citizens resided there and in the surrounding Tétouan region. During the siege of Gibraltar by the Spanish (1779–83), these Britons were expelled by the sultan.

Tangier became the diplomatic capital of Morocco in the 19th century, and in 1845 Sir John Drummond Hay began his four-decade tenure there as British representative in Morocco; throughout that period British trade and political influence predominated in the region. Garden of the former American Legation (now a museum) in Tangier, Mor. © Michael Hynes In 1844 Tangier was bombarded by a French fleet as part of French campaigns against the Algerian emir Abdelkader . The Spanish then invaded Morocco in 1860, thus challenging a British policy aimed at preventing any Continental power from securing control of the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar. This situation led the British to issue a warning that a permanent Spanish occupation of Tangier or of the nearby Moroccan coast would not be permitted. About the same time, various foreign powers began to establish their own postal services, and in 1864 a lighthouse was established at Cape Spartel that was maintained by the consuls.

Connect with Britannica Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest The result of these activities and privileges was that Tangier received an international regime of its own when the rest of the country became a French protectorate in 1912. Already in the proposed Franco-Spanish Agreement of 1902, the two powers had been willing to see the city eventually become neutral, and the Anglo-French Agreement of 1904 stipulated that Tangier should have a special status. This was confirmed at the Algeciras Conference (1906), a meeting that arose partly from calls for Morocco’s independence made by the German emperor William II during a visit to Tangier the previous year (these events were part of what came to be called the Moroccan crises ). With the establishment of the French protectorate, a commission with French, Spanish, and British members was appointed to oversee the administration of Tangier, and by 1914 it had with difficulty agreed on certain recommendations. The outbreak of World War I necessitated fresh discussions, and a statute was not agreed upon until 1923.

Five years later further modifications were introduced, with Great Britain, France , Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium , Sweden, Portugal, and Italy being recognized as the administering powers. This statute remained operative until June 1940, when Spain took advantage of the fall of France during World War II (1939–45) to occupy the zone in the name of the khalīfah of Tétouan and to impose a Spanish regime on the city. After the war the victorious Allies insisted on Spanish withdrawal, and in October 1945 the international administration was reestablished, with the participation of the United States; Italy, an Axis country during the war, was readmitted later. With some minor modifications, the statute then remained in force until the independence of Morocco in 1956. Cemetery of St. Andrew’s Church, Tangier, Mor. The church long served the Western expatriate … © Michael Hynes Tangier - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The North African city of Tangier, Morocco, is at the western end of the Strait of Gibraltar. It lies on a curving bay 17 miles (27 kilometers) from the coast of Spain.

The city appears to rise like an amphitheater into low hills. Domes and minarets rise high above the white, flat-topped houses. Near the city’s center is the Casbah, in ancient times a walled fort but now crowded with living quarters and marketplaces. The many narrow streets of the outer city are lined with tiny shops. In addition to an extensive tourist business, fishing, building trades, and textile manufacture-especially carpets-support the economy. The port handles cereal and sugar imports. Article History 1000+ images about Country.. Morocco on Pinterest | Casablanca, Blue doors and Morocco travel Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Country.. Morocco Morocco Among Safest Countries in the World for Christians Morocco Among Safest Countries in the World for Christians January 18, 2016 , 10:03 am Photo by Hassan Hamma New York – A new ranking released by the non-profit organization “ Portes Ouvertes ,” (Open Doors) ranked Morocco among the safest countries in the world for Christians. The new ranking establishes a list of the 50 countries where Christians are persecuted or prevented from freely practicing their religion.

According to the ranking, Morocco and Mauritania are the only countries in the Africa and the Middle East region (MENA) where Christians are not exposed to persecution. Morocco keeps its status as “tolerant” country with regards to Christians. In the 2015 report, the North African country was ranked with Bahrain as the only countries in the MENA region where Christian do not face persecution. “Open Doors” describes persecution as “any hostility experienced from the world as a result of one’s identification as a Christian. This include beatings, physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in education and employment, and even death. North Korea topped the list of “intolerant countries” for the 14th consecutive year. According to the same source, the top ten countries where Christians are not welcome are North Korea, Iraq, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Iran and Libya. Tunisia ranks 32, while Algeria ranks 73.

According to the US State Department’s Religious Freedom Report for 2014, there are between 4,000 and 8,000 Christians living in Morocco, mostly ethnic Amazigh. Most Moroccan Christians live in the south. According to the same source, there are between 5,000 and 25,000 foreign Christians living in Morocco, especially in Rabat, Tangier and Casablanca. “The predominantly Roman Catholic and Protestant foreign resident Christian community consists of approximately 5,000 members, although some clergy estimate the number to be as high as 25,000. Most foreign resident Christians live in the Casablanca, Tangier, and Rabat urban areas,” the 2014 report said. Join the Conversation. What do you think? Morocco - Countries - Office of the Historian Morocco - Countries A Guide to the United States’ History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Morocco Summary Morocco formally recognized the United States by signing a treaty of peace and friendship in 1786.

Despite a longstanding consular presence, permanent diplomatic relations did not begin until 1905. Morocco entered into the status of a French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and normal diplomatic relations were resumed after U.S. recognition of Moroccan independence in 1956. Modern Flag of Morocco Recognition Moroccan Recognition of the United States, 1786. Morocco recognized the United States on June 23, 1786, when a treaty of peace and friendship was signed by U.S. Minister Thomas Barclay and Sidi Muhammad, Sultan of Morocco, at Marrakech. Morocco Under French and Spanish Control, 1912-1956. In 1912, Morocco became a French protectorate. Certain portions of Morocco also came under Spanish control, including the province of Tangier. However, the United States did not recognize the French and Spanish protectorates until October 20, 1917, when Secretary of State Robert Lansing sent a letter formally acknowledging the protectorate to Jean Jules Jusserand, French Ambassador to the United States. U.S. Recognition of Moroccan Independence, 1956.

The United States recognized Moroccan independence from French sovereignty on March 7, 1956, in a statement of congratulations regarding the Franco-Moroccan declaration of March 2, wherein France had recognized Moroccan independence. Consular Presence U.S. Consul Appointed to Morocco, 1797. James Simpson was appointed the first U.S. consul, and arrived on December 7, 1797, at Tangier to assume his duties and establish the U.S. consulate. Simpson served for over twenty years, until his death on March 8, 1820. In 1821, as a gift to the United States, Sultan Mawlay Suleiman gave a building for the consulate’s use, which was the first property abroad owned by the United States. The building is now the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM). Below are dates for the earliest and latest extant dates of U.S. consulates in Morocco. The only Consulate currently in operation is in Casablanca. Tangier (Tanger, Tangiers) earliest date March 31, 1791, closed early 1989.

Tangier, which had been an international city (but still technically part of Morocco) was fully integrated into Morocco on October 29, 1956. Essaouira (Mogador) earliest date February, 7, 1817, latest open date December 15, 1920 Larache and Asilah (Laraish, Laraiche, Al-Araish, El-Araish/ Arsila, Arsila, Arseila, Arzila) earliest date: May 11, 1852 latest date: September 25, 1896 Tétouan (Tetuan) earliest date: May 11, 1852 latest date: June 14, 1896 Casablanca (Casa Blanca, Dar El-Beïda, Anfa) earliest date: May 13, 1878 latest date: Present (as of August 25, 2008) Rabat (Ribāt, Salé, Sali, Sallee) earliest date: June 25, 1881.

Became Embassy June 11, 1956. latest date: Present Safi (Saffi) earliest date: June 25, 1881 latest date: November 19, 1890 El Jadida (Mazagan, Magazan) earliest date: July 28, 1882 latest date: November 5, 1896 Diplomatic Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the American Legation at Tangier, 1905. Diplomatic relations were established on March 8, 1905, when the American consulate at Tangier was elevated to the status of a legation, and Samuel Gummere was named American Minister Plenipotentiary, with a letter of credence dated March 21. Gummere presented his credentials on September 29, 1906. Morocco under French and Spanish Control, 1912-1956. The United States did not initially recognize the French and Spanish protectorate over Morocco which was formally established in 1912. However, upon U.S. entry into the First World War, the U.S.

Government issued a statement recognizing the protectorate over Morocco on October 20, 1917, whereupon the U.S. Minister at Tangier was downgraded to the status of Diplomatic Agent. Diplomatic Relations Reestablished and Establishment of American Embassy, 1956. After the recognition of Moroccan independence, the post of diplomatic agent was again raised, this time to the level of ambassador, and the U.S. embassy was established at the capital of Rabat on Jun 11, 1956, with William J. Porter as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim; upon its establishment Legation Tangier was changed in status to a Consulate General. On October 6, 1956, Cavendish Cannon presented his credentials as the first U.S. ambassador to Morocco. On September 5, 1956, Dr. El Mehdi Mohammed Ben Aboud of Morocco presented his credentials to U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Resources Where is Casablanca, Morocco? / Where is Casablanca, Morocco Located in The World?

/ Casablanca Map - WorldAtlas.com Where is Casablanca, Morocco? Location of Casablanca on a map. Casablanca is a city found in Grand Casablanca, Morocco . It is located 33.59 latitude and -7.61 longitude and it is situated at elevation 27 meters above sea level. Casablanca has a population of 3,144,909 making it the biggest city in Grand Casablanca. It operates on the CET time zone. Quick facts The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency Background: In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Moroccan Muslim dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century.

In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from what is today called Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 80% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire between Morocco and the Polisario Front - Western Sahara's liberation movement - and leads ongoing negotiations over the status of the territory.

King MOHAMMED VI in early 2011 responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum in July 2011, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. In November 2011, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) - a moderate Islamist party - won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In September 2015, Morocco held its first ever direct elections for regional councils, one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in October 2016. Geography :: MOROCCO Demographic profile: Morocco is undergoing a demographic transition. Its population is growing but at a declining rate, as people live longer and women have fewer children. Infant, child, and maternal mortality rates have been reduced through better health care, nutrition, hygiene, and vaccination coverage, although disparities between urban and rural and rich and poor households persist.

Morocco’s shrinking child cohort reflects the decline of its total fertility rate from 5 in mid-1980s to 2.2 in 2010, which is a result of increased female educational attainment, higher contraceptive use, delayed marriage, and the desire for smaller families. Young adults (persons aged 15-29) make up almost 26% of the total population and represent a potential economic asset if they can be gainfully employed. Currently, however, many youths are unemployed because Morocco’s job creation rate has not kept pace with the growth of its working-age population. Most youths who have jobs work in the informal sector with little security or benefits. During the second half of the 20th century, Morocco became one of the world’s top emigration countries, creating large, widely dispersed migrant communities in Western Europe. The Moroccan Government has encouraged emigration since its independence in 1956, both to secure remittances for funding national development and as an outlet to prevent unrest in rebellious (often Berber) areas.

Although Moroccan labor migrants earlier targeted Algeria and France, the flood of Moroccan “guest workers” from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s spread widely across northwestern Europe to fill unskilled jobs in the booming manufacturing, mining, construction, and agriculture industries. Host societies and most Moroccan migrants expected this migration to be temporary, but deteriorating economic conditions in Morocco related to the 1973 oil crisis and tighter European immigration policies resulted in these stays becoming permanent. A wave of family migration followed in the 1970s and 1980s, with a growing number of second generation Moroccans opting to become naturalized citizens of their host countries. Spain and Italy emerged as new destination countries in the mid-1980s, but their introduction of visa restrictions in the early 1990s pushed Moroccans increasingly to migrate either legally by marrying Moroccans already in Europe or illegally to work in the underground economy. Women began to make up a growing share of these labor migrants. At the same time, some higher-skilled Moroccans went to the US and Quebec, Canada.

In the mid-1990s, Morocco developed into a transit country for asylum seekers from sub-Saharan Africa and illegal labor migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia trying to reach Europe via southern Spain, Spain’s Canary Islands, or Spain’s North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla. Forcible expulsions by Moroccan and Spanish security forces have not deterred these illegal migrants or calmed Europe’s security concerns. Rabat remains unlikely to adopt an EU agreement to take back third-country nationals who have entered the EU illegally via Morocco. Thousands of other illegal migrants have chosen to stay in Morocco until they earn enough money for further travel or permanently as a “second-best” option. The launching of a regularization program in 2014 legalized the status of some migrants and granted them equal access to education, health care, and work, but xenophobia and racism remain obstacles.

0-14 years: 26.08% (male 4,459,511/female 4,319,538) 15-24 years: 17.22% (male 2,882,145/female 2,913,917) 25-54 years: 42.24% (male 6,874,144/female 7,341,892) 55-64 years: 7.89% (male 1,318,302/female 1,337,192) 65 years and over: 6.56% (male 995,620/female 1,213,525) (2016 est.) population pyramid: geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Sunday

 in September Administrative divisions: 11 regions (recognized); Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia al Hamra, Oriental, Marrakech-Safi, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Oued Noun and Laayoune-Sakia al Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims a 12th region, Dakhla-Oued ed Dahab, that falls entirely within Western Sahara chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Abdelillah BENKIRANE (since 29 November 2011) cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from

 the majority party following legislative elections Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Chamber of Advisors (120 seats; members indirectly elected by an electoral college of local councils, professional organizations, and labor unions; members serve 6-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives (395 seats; 305 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 90 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - in the national constituency, 60 seats are reserved for women and 30 reserved for those under age 40 elections: Chamber of Advisors - last held on 2 October 2015 (next to be held in fall 2021); Chamber of Representatives - last held on 7 October 2016 (next to be held in fall 2021) election results: Chamber of Advisors- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - JDP 31.7%, PAM 25.8%, PI 11.7%, RNI 9.4%, MP 6.8%, USFP

 5.1%, UC 4.8%, PPS 3.0%, MDS 0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - PJD 125, PAM 102, PI 46, RNI 37, MP 27, USFP 20, UC 19, PPS 12, MDS 3, other 4 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided by the monarch and including the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts - among them 1 woman magistrate, the president of the National Council of the Rights of Man, and 5 "notable persons" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members

; members serve 9-year non-renewable terms subordinate courts: courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI] Amal (hope) Party [Mohamed BANI] An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj [Mustapha BRAHMA] Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM [Ilyas EL OMARI] Constitutional Union Party or UC [Mohamed SAJID] Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Abdessamad ARCHANE] Democratic Forces Front or FFD [Mustapha BENALI] Democratic Oath Party or SD Democratic Socialist Vanguard Party or PADS [Abderrahman BENAMROU] Democratic Society Party [Zhour CHAKKAFI] Environment and Development Party or PED [Karim HRITAN] Green Left Party [Mohamed FARES] Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI [Hamid CHABAT] Ittihadi National Congress or CNI [Abdesalam EL AZIZ] Labor Party or PT Moroccan Liberal Party or P

ML [Mohammed ZIANE] Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD [Jamal MANDRI] National Rally of Independents or RNI [Aziz AKHANNOUCH] Neo-Democrats Party [Mohamed DARIF] Party of Development Reform or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOHEN] Party of Justice and Development or PJD [Abdelillah BENKIRANE] Party of Liberty and Social Justice [Miloud MOUSSAOUI] Popular Movement or MP [Mohand LAENSER] Progress and Socialism Party or PPS [Nabil BENABDELLAH] Renaissance and Virtue Party [Mohamed KHALIDI] Renaissance Party [Said EL GHENNIOUI] Renewal and Equity Party or PRE [Chakir ACHEHABAR] Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party [Ahmed BELGHAZI] Social Center Party or PCS [Lahcen MADIH] Socialist Party [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA] Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Driss LACHGAR] Unified Socialist Party or GSU [Nabila MOUNIB] Unity and Democracy Party [Ahmed FITRI

] Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir EL AMAOUI] General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Mohamed KAFI CHERRAT] Justice and Charity Organization or JCO [Mohammed ben Abdesslam ABBADI] Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Miriem BENSALAH-CHAQROUN] National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Mohamed YATIM] Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Miloudi EL MOUKHARIK] International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific

 Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO chief of mission: Ambassador Mohammed Rachad BOUHLAL (since 22 December 2011) chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 chief of mission: Ambassador Dwight L.

BUSH, Sr.

(since 8 April 2014) embassy: Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170 mailing address: Unit 9400, Box Front Office, DPO, AE 09718 telephone: [212] 537 637 200 FAX: [212] 537 637 201 consulate(s) general: Casablanca Flag description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian Gulf; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912 name: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif) lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN note: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970 Economy :: MOROCCO Economy

 - overview: Morocco has capitalized on its proximity to Europe and relatively low labor costs to work towards building a diverse, open, market-oriented economy.

Key sectors of the economy include agriculture, tourism, aerospace, automotive, phosphates, textiles, apparel, and subcomponents. Morocco has increased investment in its port, transportation, and industrial infrastructure to position itself as a center and broker for business throughout Africa. Industrial development strategies and infrastructure improvements - most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier - are improving Morocco's competitiveness. In the 1980s, Morocco was a heavily indebted country before pursuing austerity measures and pro-market reforms, overseen by the IMF. Since taking the throne in 1999, King MOHAMMED VI has presided over a stable economy marked by steady growth, low inflation, and gradually falling unemployment, although poor harvests and economic difficulties in Europe contributed to an economic slowdown. To boost exports, Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008. In late 2014, Morocco eliminated subsidies for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil, dramatically reducing outlays that weighted on the country’s budget and current account. Subsidies on butane gas and certain food products remain in place.

Morocco also seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity with a goal of making renewable more than 50% of installed electricity generation capacity by 2030. Despite Morocco's economic progress, the country suffers from high unemployment, poverty, and illiteracy, particularly in rural areas. Key economic challenges for Morocco include reforming the education system and the judiciary.

27 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 29 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 100 million kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 6.1 billion kWh (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 7.7 million kW (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 69% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 19.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 4.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (July 2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 general assessment: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links

; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay; Int domestic: fixed-line teledensity is below 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 120 per 100 persons international: country code - 212; landing point for the Atlas Offshore, Estepona-Tetouan, Euroafrica, Spain-Morocco, and SEA-ME-WE-3 fiber-optic telecommunications undersea cables that provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations (2015) country comparison to the world: 14 Transnational Issues :: MOROCCO Disputes - international: claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation,

 setting limits on resource exploration and refugee interdiction, since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; the National Liberation Front's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco is a dormant dispute Morocco Country Code 212 Country Code MA About Morocco Hide CountryCode.org is your complete guide to make a call from anywhere in the world, to anywhere in the world.

This page details Morocco phone code. The Morocco country code 212 will allow you to call Morocco from another country. Morocco telephone code 212 is dialed after the IDD. Morocco international dialing 212 is followed by an area code. The Morocco area code table below shows the various city codes for Morocco. Morocco country codes are followed by these area codes. With the complete Morocco dialing code, you can make your international call. Dirham (MAD) Languages Arabic (official), Berber languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy) Electricity

Question: In which country are Tangier and Casablanca?
Answer: Morocco